Wednesday 24th March

Dull, a bit wet, but warmer than yesterday. The rain stopped by the time I reached the Downs. The Redshanks are back on the mud, over on the mud on the Leigh Woods side by Sea Walls. I counted 20 of them in a tight group, all busy probing the mud at the water side. A Kestrel landed in a bush close to the nest site, then took off and started to hunt all along the scrub and trees at the top of the Gully, I cycled over and watched him (her?) from below as he hovered. He disappeared into the Gully, but I could not see him there until he moved out back towards Black Rocks. At the Peregrine Watch a couple of ducks were speeding up and down river, one a Mallard, the other is a curious brown and white bird, I've seen it for several years. Maybe a cross with a domesticated duck. A Raven was just visible on the nest, there must be eggs by now. No Peregrines today.

I discovered another bird blog - see http://www.wildmonty.co.uk/ : Wild Monty - Wildlife sightings in the Montpelier, St Andrews, St Pauls and St Werburghs districts of Bristol, UK

Monday, Tuesday March 22nd, 23rd

Monday was cold with a strong wind from the south west, apart from Wood and feral Pigeons, Gulls, Jackdaws and Rooks, I only saw a Cormorant flying with rapid wing beats up towards Bristol Docks. The tide is high but receeding a little each day. A second "short trouser" day!
Tuesday was even colder, but thankfully without the wind. The cold drove me to wear long trousers again. A Peregrine was flying around under the cliff at the Peregrine Watch, flying just out towards the road and back repeatedly. One also came in from over by Leigh Woods, and also from the Walcombe Slade area. Maybe all the same bird. A small black head was just visible over on the Raven's nest.

Monday March 15th, Sunday March 21st

Monday: A lunchtime trip especially to see if there was any sign of the Kestrels. Yes, one flew down to the cliff beside the nest and perched on a ledge, perhaps for five minutes, then flew off towards the Gully. The bird may have joined a mate, since I saw two birds for a short time. No sign of them in the Gully. No return to the nest.
Sunday: The first morning ride (in shorts!!!) for a long time. Sunny weather and a beautiful view from Black Rocks. The climbers were out; pairs of Jackdaws circling under the cliff, but no Kestrel. The nest site cliff has small white stains in several places, a sign that they are nesting. At the Peregrine Watch the 'watchers' were out in force with 'scopes and binoculars, and the usual banter. First a Sparrowhawk appeared and flew back over the Downland Then a Peregrine passed up the Gorge at speed, it rose in the air and started to circle, hunting, to be joined and buzzed by an irate Raven. The Raven gave up; the Peregrine circled high over Leigh Woods then up over the Gorge and river, probably 500 foot up. Then an amazing stoop at high speed towards the river surface where I lost sight. Brilliant!

Tuesday, March 2nd

The weather seems to have warmed up - a little - so I cycled over to the Gorge. I first noticed the Kestrel nest at Black Rocks during April last year (not blogged since I was in the car), that was quite late, so the birds must have been sitting on eggs. Today a Kestrel disappeared into a place near last year's nest on the cliff. It did not look like the same place, and though I waited, the bird did not reappear. At the Peregrine Watch I watched a couple of Ravens circling high above their nest area on the Leigh Woods side. They must be getting ready to nest.

The GOAT PEN has been started! I see that they are clearing the bushes in a line just below the rim of the Gully beside Circular Road where it leaves the Gorge. Since it has recently been observed that the goats in Cheddar Gorge, an area 100 times that being used in the Gully, have been eating the whitebeam bark, I fail to see how all of the trees in the Gully (henceforth called the GOAT PEN!) will not be ruined. The plan was to fence the rarer whitebeams, but the glory of this region in the spring comes from all of these trees, not just those that have a rarity interest. In Cheddar the problem is compounded by the discovery of yet another whitebeam species - in this case appropriately named Cheddar Whitebeam. These Whitebeams were discovered after the NT had released the goats, so they are reported to be in a quandary! Try goat stew!

Wednesday, Thursday, January 27th, 28th

I walked over the Downs to the Gorge both days. It is too cold to cycle, and I needed the exercise. No sign of the Kestrels yet, I hear that the Peregrines are courting, and have been seen around. I haven't seen them since before Christmas. On Thursday a Buzzard was gliding around over Walcombe Slade, she attracted attention from the Gulls, a couple of Ravens and a large flock of Crows, Jackdaws and Rooks. So nice to be so unpopular! It was amazing how she avoided her tormentors - a feint, occasionally a slight tumble, or just a change of direction. She circled for some ten minutes so that my arms became tired holding the binoculars. Then she came down over the river and up close past the Peregrine Watch, so that I had a fine view. She turned and came back again past me and towards Black Rocks, finally she moved off over Leigh Woods, still pursued by three Crows, and disappeared under the tree line.

Mondays 18th, 25th January

The first of these mondays was quite warm, the second, today, was perishing so that I only managed one Downs circuit. It seemed to get colder even when I cycled! There is still a diminished pile of snow-ice at the junction of Circular Road and Ladies Mile. I did not stop to look for any birds, but there was a large group of Jackdaws/Crows/Rooks pecking around on the grass by the Peregrine Watch, and a number of fluffed-out pigeons sitting in the trees. On the 18th I did get a glimpse of a Kestrel, and this set me wondering about when they, the Kestrels, will take over their nest beside Black Rock cliff. I'm certain that they will be back in 2010, and this cold weather is less problem for raptors than other birds - lots of weak food around on the wing!
My ride this morning was to try to lay down a marker for regular cycling again, however the forecast is not good, and it looks as if the cold air is pushing the warm air back out into the Atlantic again. I'll persevere, and hopefully be out again tomorrow ....

Saturday January 9th

I walked across to the Peregrine Watch, then around to Sea Walls. The snow was very powdery, and compared to last year there were few snow sculptures, but some very large snowballs! The bitter cold made it difficult to linger. I spotted a Raven from the Peregrine Watch, and possibly a Peregrine over in Leigh Woods trees. Then at Sea Walls a Kestrel was chased around by a Crow, some Redwing were flying around above the river. A small speckled bird, just below the fence was probably a Meadow Pipet. This morning (Sunday), from our house window over Redland another Crow was chasing, probably a Peregrine. The survival of many of these birds in this cold must be precarious.